Civic Engagement
Making a difference in our communities doesn't just happen. And it doesn’t only require hard work and motivation, although these are necessary components. It involves a process of becoming informed, engaging in reflection, learning new skills, and being empowered to act with intention. At Sandy Spring Friends School, we equip students to be conscious and conscientious citizens who are empowered to be positive changemakers in the world.
What does Civic Engagement Look Like at SSFS?
Civic engagement and social responsibility were in the founding goals of Sandy Spring Friends School as an essential element of a robust Quaker education. Here, civic engagement involves:
- Becoming knowledgeable about current events and key issues impacting human and civil rights around the world
- Listening actively and inquiring regularly
- Engaging in deep reflection and analysis
- Growing in an ability to recognize, understand, and honor multiple perspectives
- Responding to the needs around us and working to make our communities better
See the "SSFS Guidelines on Civic Engagement & the School Environment" booklet, originally posted Oct. 2020, and updated for 2024.
Community-Based Education to Foster Globally-Minded Citizens
At Sandy Spring Friends, we believe that an education rooted in community encourages our students to become globally-aware citizens who are self-sustaining, empathetic, and respectful changemakers in our ever-changing society.
Civic Engagement Through Self-Advocacy
Sandy Spring Friends School is deeply committed to civic engagement through our mission to “Let Your Lives Speak.” By fostering critical thinkers and compassionate self-advocates, our students become changemakers in their community and in the world.
Civic Engagement: Key Skills
Civic engagement allows our students to develop and practice key skills for leadership and life-long learning. Specifically, civic engagement encourages:
- Active listening and inquiry
- Deep reflection and analytical thought
- Considering evidence and counter-evidence collaboratively
- Creative problem-solving where teachers partner with students in the learning process
- An ability to see, understand, and hold multiple perspectives fostered by a culture of respect